The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-10-31
A CHAPLAIN AFLOAT .
BEING TIE ACCOUNT OF THE CRUISE
OF II. Il. MS SHIT OF WAR THE
BLUNDERBUss " FROM PANAMA,
L. 5. OF C. TO HONOLULU, II. 1.
Extracted from the Records oil the Archaic
Club.
BY PERcIvAL LESLIE. |

| W iNAiCNS AAANhNA w NOs lnN Shup-
lain sought the quiet of his room,
and yielding himself TO thoughts,
soon became a prey to deep des-
pondency. lie was on the eve Of
a deadly conflict about to meet
his fellow man, on what the thought
less world called the "Field of Ho-
nor" If he fell, a few considerable
friends might drop to his memory a
few sympathetic tears, and if be
proved the victor, what then? So
ciety would applaud him, and men
would call him brave, and respect
him; but what about God? Did
he not say, "Thou shalt not commit
murder" and launch his terrible
thunders against it as he did upon
Cain? What was he to do? To
back out now would brand him as a
coward among men, make him the
subject of ridicule and contempt.
Then should be not as an anointed
minister of God, rather forgive the
injuries done him, than seek to
wash them in blood? Wearied with
these and kindred thoughts he
gradually sank into fitful and rest
less sleep. The next morning rose
as calm and beautiful as a vision of
Paradise, and as the sun had kissed
away the dew the party had left the
ship, and took their way to the fatal
field. They were the first to reach
the appointed place, and seating
themselves upon the grassy sward,
calmly awaited the coming of the
editor and his friends. They did
not have long to wait, for a few
minutes before the appointed time,
three carriages came slowly up the
road, and stopping at the entrance
to the field, discharged their occu-
pants. The first contained Senior
de Cordora. his second and the sur
geon. The second, somewhat
shabby gotten up public hack, was
occupied by the newspapers courier,
and the third was filled by the
smiling-solemn undertaken. The
principals and seconds advancing,
greeted each other with the utmost
courtesy. After which the midship-
man and Senior de Bustamente re-
firing little began the necessary
preliminaries of the fray, such as
measuring off the agreed distance,
and seeing the pistols properly
loaded. All being arranged to their
entire satisfaction the two gentle
men approached their principals,
and after a conversation with each
led them to the appointed place. 1t
was agreed that they should fire at
ten PAGES and to discharge the pieces
on the giving by the midshipman of
the word "three."
"One," solemnly said the mid
shipman.
Each duelist faced to the front.
"Two," continued the midship-
man.
The dueltists slowsly raised their
pistols and coolly took deliberate
aim at each. The features of
the editor were as calm and as
unruflled as though he was doing a
thing of every day occurrence,
whilst the Chaplain's face though
calmly determined, blanched little
as the decisive moment approached.
A second silence intervened-a
silence like that of the tomb.
"Three!" said the midshipman in
an awfully solemn tone of voice, at
the same time dropping the fatal
handkerchief.
Two shots rang simultaneously on
the air.
Two white wreaths of smoke rose
heavenward.
The smoke cleared away, and re-
vealed to the gazers a memorable
sight. At one end stood the erect
and Mortified figure of the Chaplain,
at the other lay the body of the
editor, bleeding.
"The Society" that evening Sc
cured the series of a new, but less
brilliant editor, whilst the Archaics
boosted of Chaplain who had sue
cessfully fought duel.
Uneasily rested the Chaplains
head that night. TO fully appre-
ciate the He'll that rioted through
his brain, one need but imagine that
the picture of "Orestes persued by
the "Furies" had become reality,
and enacted their parts, with the
ENJOYS brain pan for stage. His
His sleep, fitful as it was, was but one
season of torments, and in his mental
anguish he would toss about and
groan aloud. To his frenzy wrought
Imagination everything seemed to
conspire and call him murderer. He
thought of the wife and little ones,
who should hereafter live, only to be
branded with the shame of having
a murderer for a father. Then
would he bethink of himself as a
Minister of the Gospel. He, sworn
to holy peace, now turned rioter
in mems blood. His soul recoiled
before the fact that he dared to
brare his God. Who had COM
manded ''Thou shall not murder
yet he, his Minister had dared to do
so. The thought was madness